US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Jared Kushner has met with senior Hamas officials in Egypt as efforts continue to find a long-term solution to the war in Gaza. The meeting took place on Sunday and was described as a rare high-level discussion between a senior US representative and Hamas. A Palestinian official told the BBC that Kushner met a Hamas delegation led by Khalil al-Hayya, the group’s new overall leader. The talks are part of wider efforts to put Trump’s Gaza peace plan into action. The plan is focused on ending the conflict, disarming Hamas and other armed groups, withdrawing Israeli forces from Gaza and rebuilding the territory under a new civilian Palestinian administration. The meeting comes at a difficult time because Israel has rejected the current 15-point proposal. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Hamas must be completely disarmed before Israel agrees to withdraw its troops. Netanyahu has strongly opposed any plan that would allow Israeli forces to leave Gaza while Hamas still has weapons. He said Israel would not carry out a withdrawal until Hamas was genuinely disarmed. The disagreement between the United States and Israel has created a major challenge for the peace effort. Trump’s administration is trying to move the plan forward, while Israel is demanding security guarantees and the complete removal of Hamas’s military capabilities. Kushner’s meeting with Hamas is therefore seen as an important step because direct talks at this level have been rare. The meeting reportedly focused on practical steps that could be taken to remove Hamas’s weapons and move toward a new political and security arrangement in Gaza. Other important figures were also reportedly involved in the discussions. Board of Peace envoys Nickolay Mladenov and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair were said to have taken part. Representatives from Egypt, Qatar and Turkey were also involved. Egypt, Qatar and Turkey have played important roles in efforts to mediate between Israel and Hamas. They have previously helped with negotiations, ceasefire arrangements and the release of hostages and prisoners. Kushner also met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi during his visit to Egypt. Their discussions reportedly focused on developments in Gaza and the wider Middle East. The US delegation is expected to continue its diplomatic efforts. According to reports, Kushner, Mladenov and Blair are due to meet Netanyahu to discuss the peace plan and ways to move negotiations forward. The situation remains difficult because the ceasefire in Gaza has continued, but tensions and violence have not completely stopped. Israeli forces have carried out several strikes in Gaza, including attacks in the Khan Yunis and Nuseirat areas. Israel has said the strikes were aimed at terrorists and accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire. Hamas and Israel have remained deeply divided over the future of Gaza. Israel wants strong security guarantees and the complete disarmament of Hamas. Hamas, meanwhile, has historically opposed giving up its weapons without major political and security changes. Another major issue is the humanitarian situation. The war has caused enormous destruction across Gaza. The United Nations estimates that around 1.9 million people, or about 90% of Gaza’s population, have been displaced since the conflict began. The rebuilding of Gaza is also a central part of Trump’s proposal. Years of fighting have damaged homes, hospitals, roads and other important infrastructure. Any long-term peace agreement would require large amounts of international aid and a major reconstruction effort. Eight Muslim-majority countries have also spoken out about the situation. Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Turkey, Pakistan and Indonesia issued a joint statement criticizing Israel’s rejection of Trump’s plan. The countries said Israel’s rejection could damage efforts to achieve peace and called for continued international efforts to find a solution. The current diplomatic push comes nearly three years after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023. About 1,200 people were killed in the attack and 251 others were taken hostage, according to Israeli figures. Israel responded with a large military campaign in Gaza. Gaza’s health ministry says more than 73,000 people have been killed during the war. The figures from the ministry are considered reliable by the United Nations. The latest meeting between Kushner and Hamas does not mean that a final peace agreement has been reached. Major disagreements remain over Hamas’s weapons, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, Gaza’s future government and security arrangements. However, the talks show that diplomatic efforts are continuing. The coming meetings between US officials, Israeli leaders and regional mediators could determine whether Trump’s Gaza peace plan can move forward or faces further delays. For now, the biggest challenge remains finding an agreement that can satisfy Israel’s security demands while also addressing Palestinian political rights, humanitarian needs and the future reconstruction of Gaza.